Health & Fitness
6 Reasons Carbs Are Your Friend
If you’re like many weight-loss hopefuls who come to us believing that carbs are their worst enemy, we’ve got some good news. You actually should eat some carbs to assist in your weight loss! In fact, opting for quality carbohydrates like whole grains, legumes, fruits and veggies will help you feel satisfied and […]
Total-body Plyometrics Workout
Plyometric exercise (plyo meaning longer and metric meaning measures) have been around since the first Olympians in Greece donned white robes and grape leaf crowns. These types of exercises are used regularly by athletes who require explosive power for their particular sport. But are plyometrics reserved only for the very athletic? The answer is […]
Keep Running, Even with Plantar Fasciitis
If you’re a runner who experiences frequent heel pain, there’s a chance you could be suffering from plantar fasciitis. It can be extremely painful, but with proper treatment in your own home, there’s no reason you can’t keep running. What is plantar fasciitis? Sometimes referred to as Jogger’s heel, plantar fasciitis occurs as a result of […]
Window of opportunity against HIV comes from ‘fitness bottleneck’
New research on HIV transmission shows that viral fitness is an important basis of a “genetic bottleneck” imposed every time a new person is infected. The findings define a window of opportunity for drugs or vaccines to prevent or limit infection. HIV represents evolution on overdrive. Every infected individual contains a swarm of viruses that […]
Omega 3 fatty acids lessen severity of osteoarthritis in mice
Mice consuming a supplement of omega 3 fatty acids had healthier joints than those fed diets high in saturated fats and omega 6 fatty acids, according to Duke Medicine researchers. The findings, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, suggest that unhealthy dietary fats – not just obesity – may contribute to worsening osteoarthritis. […]
Go play outside: Outdoor time promotes physical activity in youth
The World Health Organization recommends that youth participate in a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) each day. Studies have shown that youth experience most of their MVPA during school hours. Therefore, it stands to reason that increasing outdoor time after school hours would increase MVPA. In a new study […]
Obesity alone does not cause arthritis in animals
The link between obesity and osteoarthritis may be more than just the wear and tear on the skeleton caused by added weight. A Duke University study has found that the absence of the appetite hormone leptin can determine whether obese mice experience arthritis, no matter how heavy they are. “We were completely surprised to find […]
Want a higher GPA in college? Join a gym
For those students looking to bump up their grade point averages during college, the answer may not be spending more time in a library or study hall, but in a gym. New Michigan State University research shows that students who were members of the recreational sports and fitness centers on MSU’s campus during their freshman […]
Why weight-loss surgery cures diabetes: New clues
Scientists at The University of Manchester are a step closer to understanding why diabetes is cured in the majority of patients that undergo gastric bypass surgery. The research, published in the journal Endocrinology, shows the cure is likely to be explained by the actions of specialized cells in the intestine that secrete a cocktail of […]
Extreme obesity may shorten life expectancy up to 14 years
Adults with extreme obesity have increased risks of dying at a young age from cancer and many other causes including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney and liver diseases, according to results of an analysis of data pooled from 20 large studies of people from three countries. The study, led by researchers from the National […]